I have noticed that some of the most biased individuals are the ones who don't actually know any one of the people they choose to "bash" with negative comments. 

 

I have found those who think homosexuals are evil - generally don't know any.  They rely upon information generated with the intent to spread negative things about the group that generally speaking are so untrue I rate them up there with Elvis sightings and conspiracy - No Elvis is not still alive nor an alien life form.  He is dead.

 

So how many actually know atheists?

I'm constantly amazed at just how importnat religion is in america and how much power and influence it holds.

The nearest thing we have to god in the uk is football.

You would think the same thing during football season here - since even those who attend church will miss for that or will have ear phones in their ears during services. 

 

I just think it is funny how some form beliefs on who to associate with and to trust - it seems juvenile.   Some people don't even know the people their insisting are bad or untrustworthy - they just assume it because of a biases and some "evidence" produced by people just like them who also have nothing to do with the people they insult - it is silly and then undermines the group insisting it is truth because they become untrustworthy themselves because they offer opinion as fact and offer evidence that is not evidence.  Know what I mean?  ;-)

I hang out a lot in theYahoo Answers forums, especially philosophy, and have noticed a lot of believers have views about atheists and atheism that make it rather obvious that they do not (knowingly) know any atheists.  To a lot of believers, atheists are elitist, nihilistic, intellectual (this has somehow become a bad thing to be), materialist, immoral, amoral, hedonistic, liberal or socialist, angry, militant, cynical, unspiritual, and/or merely "in denial" about the existence of a god (their particular god, of course).  Many also seem to think that atheism is just a convenient excuse to be unaccountable and to be able to do whatever we want.  I can only wonder if such demonizations are coming from their pastor or church group, or some religious internet site(s).

Although I do not make it a point to declare my atheism to everyone within earshot, neither do I have much fear of "coming out" to friends, acquaintances, or co-workers.  Some have been genuinely surprised to learn that I was an atheist, and I'm sure that some who don't yet know, would be.  I'm a typical Nice Guy™ who doesn't really fit any of the stereotypes of atheists above.  And quite frankly, very few atheists I've met or been acquainted with would.  (Well OK, maybe intellectual.  :-)

P.S.  Football in the UK is what we in the states call soccer.  :-)  The Brits' closest thing to our football would be rugby.

I wonder how many people know a homosexual and an atheist?  It is the reprehensible actions of those who portend to Christianity that determinably made my an atheopath  - I don't care if a God exists or not.  There is nothing I can do to prove either side.  There is nothing I can do to change any situation when confronted with the purposefulness of a supreme being. Rewards and punishments doled out from a seemingly benevolent God are the most base of standards by which to determine your behavior - actually less moral than basing actions on greed and selfishness, supposed the standard used by the "godless".  Why should I bother myself with proving or disproving something provable and over which I have no control, AND which installs a morally bankrupt basis by which to determine lifestyles????  I say being gay and affirming about it hurts no one. The so-called "believers" worship a God who compels them to subjugate, harass and on occasion MURDER people simply for being homosexual. What side of that argument would you come  down on?